In this issue:
- TIP: The rules of contractions
- Write for magazines and newspapers!
- Writers at the Convent Festival
- Student Success – Congratulations to Kim and Georgia
- Write about your life
- Movie ticket giveaway - Precious
- Improve your writing with Grammar and Punctuation Essentials
- WEBPICK: Aquanotes
It’s been a great week at the Sydney Writers’ Centre. We’re now now back in full swing with a busy schedule of courses. One of the seminars that I’m particularly excited and passionate about is Blogging for Business. Many readers may know that we’ve really embraced social media here – with blogging, Twitter and the like – and we’ve made many wonderful connections this way.In fact, the Sydney Writers’ Centre blog was named by Smart Company as one of the Top Business Blogs in Australia. I also blog with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. And I have a personal blog! I find blogging one of the most effective ways to communicate and spread your message – as long as you get it right. If you are blogging for business, you need to ensure that you are doing it effectively – and that you are following the rules of the blogosphere. If not, you could be making mistakes that may result in bad PR for your organisation.
This seminar is ideal for:
- anyone who wants to start a blog for their business
- marketing and public relations professionals who want to mentor clients confidently on blogging
- communications and HR professionals charged with supervising the blogging of employees
The seminar is presented by Steven Lewis, who has consulted on blogging, podcasting and other Web 2.0 tools for companies such as Westpac and IAG. For Tourism Tasmania he created a ground-breaking series of travel podcasts, with similar projects in the works for companies like V Australia and Time Out.
Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis
When: Thursday 28 January 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $365
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
TIP: The rules of contractions
This one may seem incredibly obvious to most of you, but I see this too many times in writing to continue to ignore it!
Should’ve, could’ve, and would’ve are all contractions. The apostrophe replaces the letters ‘ha’ in the word ‘have’. It does not replace the word ‘of’! So,
This one may seem incredibly obvious to most of you, but I see this too many times in writing to continue to ignore it!Should’ve, could’ve, and would’ve are all contractions. The apostrophe replaces the letters ‘ha’ in the word ‘have’. It does not replace the word ‘of’! So,
Could’ve = could haveIt’s likely that many people make this error because of the way it sounds when you say a contraction – ‘could’ve’ really does sound like ‘could of’. But you should never write ‘could of’ etc. It is wrong! The apostrophe does not replace the word ‘of’.
Should’ve = should have
Would’ve = would have
Write for magazines and newspapers
Do you dream of writing for your favourite magazine in 2010 but can’t make it to one of our evening classes? One of our most popular courses is Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers and we’re committed to making it accessible to as many of our readers as possible, so we now run a morning class as well! The Feature Writing course is for anyone who’d like to see their work published, whether it’s in magazines or newspapers – or both. It is possible to begin your career as a freelance writer, and this course will show you how to do it.
The course will teach you about:
- which ideas work - and where to get them
- understanding the magazine/news market
- different types of feature articles
- how to research, structure and write a feature
- what editors want from a writer
- how to pitch your article or idea to a magazine and sell it!
Here’s what some recent participants had to say about the course:
‘[I enjoyed] interacting between the presenter and students, meeting people from all walks of life. I found it very positive and encouraging. I have a clearer picture of what is required for writing and feel more confident about doing it.’
- Michele Jorna
‘The information presented was interesting and logically taught. I think the small size of the group was really beneficial for asking questions and getting to know the other group members. I had a great time! I have entered a Travel Writing competition and will be implementing all the skills I have learnt over the Summer. I have the confidence now that I can achieve success in writing, which I did not have previously.’
- Chantelle Thompson
The course is taught by Vanessa Waters, an award-winning writer with over 15 years’ experience in the publishing industry. Since graduating with a BA in Communications from UTS she has worked in both newspapers and magazines, cutting her teeth on titles such as TV HITS, Girlfriend, Teen Hit, New Idea, That's Life!, Home Beautiful, SUNDAY Magazine, Marie Claire, Body + Soul and New Woman.
She is a seasoned lecturer, a contributing author of a women's anthology (released through Adams Media in the USA) and the author of Secrets of Our Success, published through Random House.
Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Vanessa Waters
When: Wednesday mornings starting Wednesday 3 March 2010 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am – 12 noon
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Student Success – Congratulations Kim and Georgia
We received some great news this week from one of our former Feature Writing participants. Kim Kind completed both the stage 1 and stage 2 courses, and is now writing regularly for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald Career sections. One of her stories, about new mums returning to work, was used as a cover story for both papers. This is great news Kim – congratulations! We’re looking forward to hearing more about your writing in 2010. Kim wrote to us:
“I took your class at the Sydney Writers' Centre [with Judy Skatssoon] in May/June and wanted to tell you that it has led to a regular gig for me ... I have a lot to thank you for! If it wasn't for the success of that first pitch, I would never have had the confidence to put forward more ideas (most of which have been picked up). I've even gone back to uni to do a postgrad in Journalism and I'm loving it. So thanks!”
Another former feature writing student, Georgia Rickard, has also flourished in the world of magazines and newspapers. She’s now the editor of a monthly health magazine and was recently interviewed for Girl With a Satchel – the blog to read if you want to know all about what’s going on in the world of magazines.
You can read more about her success here.
Writers in the Convent Festival
Those lucky Melbournites – they get to enjoy the first writers’ festival of 2010 when the annual Writers at the Convent festival is held on the 12 to 14 February. Held in the beautiful surrounds of the Abbotsford Convent, featured authors include Matthew Reilly, Alex Miller, and Garry Disher. Also appearing will be columnists Dr Stephanie Dowrick and Danny Katz (surely familiar names to Good Weekend readers) as well as writer and Griffith Review editor Julianne Schulz. There will be panel sessions as well as conversations with authors. Each session costs $17 ($15 for a concession). You can order your tickets online or through the Readers’ Feast Bookstore in Melbourne city.
Click here for full details and a festival program.
Write about your life
Writing your memoir or family history can be a truly rewarding experience, but if you’re not sure where to start it can also be a daunting one. Patti Miller’s Writing Your Life course will guide you through creative autobiographical writing, and help you write an engaging life story. The course includes workshops that will help you:
- awaken memory and creativity
- create the lived reality of your experience on the page
- bring details to life
- find structure to your work.
Here’s what our most recent participants said about the course:
‘It helped me to get a practical idea of how to begin the mammoth task of writing my memoirs and I found the information about going back in time through my life to find material for my book to be very useful. I have been encouraged to start working on a memoir and feel more confident about it than before!’
- Nitasha Thomson
‘I have learnt a lot! The way I am writing has changed. Before "I" was telling the story from my view as an observer. Now I let the reader "see" and "feel" for themselves. What a difference! Since the course I have decided to start all over again with my life story even though I had written 2/3 of it already. But I know it will be much better and more interesting now.’
- Sigrid Moeller
The course is presented by Patti Miller who has taught creative writing, with a particular focus on autobiographical writing, for 20 years. At the Sydney Writers' Centre, you learn from the best - and we believe Patti is the best life writing teacher in Australia.
Writing Your Life Weekend Workshop with Patti Miller
When: Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 February 2010 (two-day workshop)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $450
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Movie ticket giveaway
No doubt many of you have already heard about this film. Precious has been a surprise hit in the US and just won one of its stars, M’Onique, a Golden Globe award for best supporting actress. It also won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival as well as a Grand Jury Prize at Cannes. Based on the 1996 novel Push by Sapphire, here’s a little more about the film: Clareece "Precious" Jones is an overweight, illiterate African-American teen in Harlem. Just as she's about to give birth to her second child, Jones is accepted into an alternative school where a teacher helps her find a new path in her life.
Icon Films have given us ten double passes for the Advanced Screening weekend on 29 to 31 January nationally. If you’d like to win a double pass just tell us which book you think students should read at school and why.
Email your anwers to courses@spindriftmedia and remember to include your postal address! Entries close at 5pm on Tuesday 26 January 2010.
Improve your writing with Grammar and Punctuation EssentialsDo you find grammar and punctuation frightening? Not sure when or how to use apostrophes, hyphens or exclamation marks? Our one-day Grammar and Punctuation seminar will help you overcome your fear and walk away with a new appreciation for the wonders of grammar.
This intensive and practical course will give you knowledge that you’ll be able to apply immediately – to your own writing and to others.
You'll come away with:
- a clear understanding of how to treat common mistakes - such as apostrophes and plurals
- the basic rules you need to know to be confident in the workplace
- an understanding of when to bend, break or keep a rule or convention
- empowerment to justify your corrections to your own and other people's writing
- a taste of how professional editors approach their craft
- more confidence in applying the standard hard-copy editing marks to double-spaced copy
- and much more
You’ll also be given a copy of Deb Doyle’s book Grey Areas and Gremlins: A grammar and punctuation refresher, so you’ll always have a handy reference for answering your grammar questions.
Here’s what some recent participants had to say about the seminar:
‘Deb is fabulous! I am now more aware of what I write and try to avoid mistakes.’
- Sze Wing Yip
‘FANTASTIC KNOWLEDGE from Presenter Deb Doyle, she is very enthusiastic about her subject and a strong communicator, able to answer all questions in a fun and memorable way. I learnt SO MUCH in one day that I'd really like to do more study and/or courses. The course was exactly what I'd hoped it would be, very practical as well.’
- Fiona Goldsworthy
Grammar and Punctuation Essentials: What you need to know with Deb Doyle
When: Tuesday 16 February 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
WEBPICK: Sydney Writers' Centre podcastsAt the risk of sounding like we’re blowing our own trumpet, this week’s webpick comes from... us! We had so many amazing suggestions for podcast interviews when we ran a competition a few weeks ago (congratulations to Maxine Jacobi who won the book pack) so I wanted to remind you about our wonderful podcast page.
We’ve interviewed many authors over the last year, including Tom Rob Smith, Jack Marx, Scott Frost and Craig Silvey. There are also interviews with journalists and editors, including Helen Brown and Liz Bryski, and we’ve even interviewed the lipstick queen, Poppy King! All of their stories are inspirational and full of advice for budding authors and writers.
We’re busy following up on some of your author suggestions so keep an eye out for new interviews very soon! Check it out at www.sydneywriterscentre.com.au/podcast.htm.
Other upcoming courses
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller – FULL
When: Every Friday starting Friday 22 January 2010 for six weeks
Time: 10am - 12noon
Cost: $450
Seminar: Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis
When: Thursday 28 January 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $365
Course: Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Pamela Wilson
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 28 January 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Online Creative Writing with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman - FULL
When: Week beginning Monday 1 February 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Online Feature Writing Stage 1 with Valerie Khoo - FULL
When: Week beginning Monday 1 February 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett - FULL
When: Tuesday 2 February 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75
Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge - FULL
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 3 February 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Online Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge - FULL
When: Week beginning Monday 8 February 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson
When: Thursday 11 February 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 February (two-day workshop)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $450
Course: Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 15 February 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75
Course: Online Feature Writing Stage 1 with Valerie Khoo - NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 15 February 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Online Creative Writing with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman
When: Week beginning Monday 15 February 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Tuesday 16 February 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 16 February 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 DAYTIME course with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 18 February 2010 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter - NEW DATE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 25 February 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30-8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Online Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Week beginning Monday 1 March 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Seminar: Editing Essentials with Katrina Lobley
When: Tuesday 2 March 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $345
Course: Feature Writing Stage 1 DAYTIME course with Vanessa Waters
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 3 March 2010 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $395
Course: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson – NEW DATE
When: Tuesday 9 March 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395
Course: Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 5 March 2010 (2-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am - 12 noon
Cost: $75
Seminar: Self-Publishing: How to do it with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 15 March 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $75
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett - NEW DATE
When: Tuesday 23 March 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75
Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 30 March 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge - NEW DATE
When: Every Monday starting Monday 5 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Kate Forsyth
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 8 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 5-day Intensive course with Jeni Mawter
When: Monday 12 April - Friday 16 April 2010 (5 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395
Course: Feature Writing Stage 2 with Judy Skatssoon
When: Every Wednesday beginning Wednesday 14 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Script Writing for Short Films with Geoff Bartlett - NEW DATE
When: Thursday 13 May and 20 May 2010 (two evening seminars)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $165
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 12 August 2010 for six weeks
Time: 10am - 12noon
Cost: $450
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